A Word From Our President | |
|
As we look forward to 2025, we're excited to help you grow your business with sponsorship opportunities through the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce!
Sponsorships are essential to the Chamber's mission, empowering us to offer valuable programs, advocate for businesses, and host events that strengthen and support our local business community.
From yearly packages to monthly programs like our Eye Opener Breakfast series, there are opportunities to fit a variety of goals and budgets. These sponsorships are an excellent investment in your business, offering targeted exposure and direct engagement with other professionals and community leaders in the Bay Area and beyond!
For more information or to reserve your sponsorship, please contact Leann Harrison at leann@baycityarea.com.
Happy Holidays!
| |
|
All Dry Services of the Tri Cities
All Dry Services of the Tri Cities dedicated to home and business owners dealing with the aftermath of disasters from water, mold, sewer, storm, fire, smoke, odor, bio-hazard, and trauma damage.
Antique Toy & Firehouse Museum
The Antique Toy & Firehouse Museum honors 1st responders of the Great Lakes Bay region through their items on display that tell their histories.
Bay City Boat Rental
At Bay City Boat Rental, they pride themselves on offering reliable boats that cater to both seasoned boaters and those new to the water who strive to make your boat rental experience seamless and enjoyable, providing top-notch customer service and competitive rates. Discover the best things to do in Bay City from a unique perspective with Bay City Boat Rental, your trusted partner for boat rentals.
Burt Watson Auto Group
Whether you are waiting for your vehicle to get serviced, picking up a part for your vehicle, or stopping by to check out a new vehicle for yourself, Burt Watson Auto Group offers a wide range of amenities to enhance your experience.
Comparion Insurance
Comparion Insurance Agency was created to transition former Liberty Mutual exclusive agents to an agency that delivers a unique value proposition to carriers. They offer customers 50+ insurance companies with product breadth including car, home, life, pet, renters, umbrella, jewelry and much more.
Krazy Juan Mexican Steak House
Steaks, Mexican food, dine-in, margaritas & unique cocktails.
Maple Lane Variety Fab, LLC
Maple Lane Variety Fab is a full-service welding, fabrication, and repair shop based in Kawkawlin, MI. In addition to these services, they offer sandblasting, painting, mobile welding repairs, and welding inspections certified by the American Welding Society.
| |
We always encourage you to support your fellow Chamber members! | |
December Eye Opener Breakfast- Register Today! | |
|
Don't miss your chance to hear from our amazing lineup of speakers about Conscious Capitalism this Friday at our December Eye Opener Breakfast!
Join us for new member introductions, community updates, LOTS of booths & fun!
Don't forget to show your holiday spirit and wear your red and green!
Registration is still open, get your ticket today!
| |
|
Nominations are open for the annual awards to be presented at the Chamber's 142nd Annual Meeting which will take place on March 27, 2025. This is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the outstanding individuals and businesses who have made significant contributions to the local community and economy.
Nominations are open for the following award categories:
Athena Award - The Athena Award was created to recognize the accomplishments of women who have attained and personified the highest level of professional excellence in business or their profession or men who have supported women in reaching their fullest potential.
Business Hall of Fame Award - The Business Hall of Fame Award was instituted in 1986 to recognize individuals for their significant contributions to the improvement of the Bay Area.
Energize YPN Award - The Energize YPN Award was created to recognize a member of Energize who is an emerging leader in the community both personally and professionally. Nominees must be active members in the YPN group and be between 21-40 years old.
Heart of the Chamber Award - This award is presented to a Chamber member or organization who has proactively demonstrated extraordinary enthusiasm for our organization through volunteerism, participation in Chamber activities and/or committees, support for staff, or other notable contribution.
Leadership Alumni Community Service Award - Nominee must be a graduate of Leadership Bay County and include evidence of actual leadership efforts and accomplishments, collaborative skills, comprehensive knowledge of the community, generous commitment, active assistance to others, appreciation for diversity and visionary skills.
To nominate a candidate for any of these prestigious awards, please view the nomination instructions on each form. The deadline for nominations is January 31, 2025.
| |
|
The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce hosted two students for Rotary Vocational Day!
This event, organized in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Bay City and the Bay City Morning Club aims to provide students with insights into various careers available within their community. By participating, students gain firsthand experience and understanding of local industries, connecting education and the workforce in a meaningful way.
It is always a pleasure bringing students to our office to show them what we do. We hope this experience opens doors for them to explore diverse career paths and gain clarity on their future goals!
| |
|
Leadership Bay County Class of 2025
Selects Class Project
| The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Bay County Class of 2025 proudly announces its collaboration with the Bay City Downtown Development Authority (DDA) on an impactful tree-planting project aimed at enhancing the community’s economic vitality, placemaking appeal, and environmental sustainability. Set to begin in spring 2025, this initiative will involve planting Armstrong Maple trees in key downtown locations, contributing to the beautification of Bay City while addressing long-term environmental and social benefits. | |
|
We couldn’t ask for a better community. Parents bring their kids here, and those kids grow up to start their first job working behind the counter. Customers became friends, and friends became family. To them, my mom was ‘Ma’. It started off as ‘Miss Jacquie’, but then we started hearing, ‘Hi, Ma!’ or ‘What are you cooking today, Ma?’
That’s who she was, and my mom was the soul of this place. She made people feel like part of the family. Even now, three years later, people will say, ‘I can’t believe she’s gone.’ She’s the reason that all of us, after she passed away, said ‘ We’re doing this together as a family and for her.’
Mussell Beach is mom’s legacy, and we want to make her proud.
—Catie Beffrey and Liz Larner, Mussell Beach Drive In in Bay City, Michigan
| |
Call for Students for National Civics Bee® | |
|
Applications for the 2025 National Civics Bee® are open!
Parents of 6th, 7th and 8th graders, this is the perfect opportunity for middle schoolers to engage in civics and contribute to their communities while developing writing and public speaking skills. Did we mention that participants are competing for trophies, cash prizes and a 529 plan?!?
Applications close February 4, 2025.
| |
| |
|
|
The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce had the opportunity to participate in Saginaw Valley State University's Dine and Connect event!
Dine and Connect is a networking opportunity for SVSU Employer Partners to connect with students and alumni while sharing a meal and discussing proper dining etiquette in a corporate environment.
This partnership with SVSU is incredibly valuable as it gives us the opportunity to receive enhanced student engagement and company awareness benefits around campus. We can’t wait to attend again next year!
| |
Stay happy & healthy this holiday season with some tips from Blue Cross Blue Shield! | |
|
Do you know a business who would be a great addition to our Chamber family?
Share our Membership Application with them!
| |
Get your questions about Earned Sick Time Act/Minimum Wage answered here: | |
Judge Blocks Federal Ownership Reporting Requirements | |
|
A federal court in Texas halted the implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act’s (CTA) beneficial ownership reporting requirements. Holding that the CTA is likely unconstitutional, the court issued a preliminary injunction barring the government from enforcing the CTA and its reporting requirements against anyone.
Why it matters: Prior to the ruling, small businesses that met certain criteria would have had to file reports with the Department of the Treasury by January 1, 2025, or risk fines and criminal penalties.
Looking ahead: The preliminary relief will remain in effect until the conclusion of legal proceedings, at which point the court may enter a permanent injunction. In the meantime, the government will likely appeal the preliminary injunction.
Bottom line: Unless and until an appellate court overrules or narrows the injunction, no businesses are obligated to comply with the reporting requirements.
Learn more:
What Every Small Business Needs to Know About the Corporate Transparency Act
| |
2023-2024 Legislative Session Coming to a Close | |
|
What’s happening: With five remaining scheduled session days, the Michigan House and Senate are running furious toward the finish line of the 2023-24 legislative session.
- Nearly 200 bills could be considered in the House alone this week –everything from destroying consistency by giving Michigan’s 1,800 local units of government the right to pass their own local employment laws and drastically increasing employer-financed workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance costs, to incentivizing new avenues to sue small businesses and stopping redevelopment of contaminated sites through radical regulations and escalated costs.
- Creating a massive, government-controlled, one-size-fits-all paid leave mandate financed by a new $1-1.5 billion payroll tax on every worker and business in Michigan. The proposal would strip leave decisions from HR experts and put them into the hands of state bureaucrats.
-
Equally concerning, a deal has yet to come together to fix the minimum wage and earned sick time acts, meaning those bills (HBs 6056 and 6057) could easily get left on the cutting room floor.
Why it matters: As the Detroit News aptly put it, “The lame duck legislative session promises to be a last hurrah of progressive policymaking in Lansing.” Many of these policy changes could devastate Michigan’s business community and economy and put the state’s path to growth at risk.
- The sheer number of bills, many of which have not been fully vetted at all this session but could still be jammed through without proper debate and only Democrats voting yes, is staggering.
- Equally consequential would be a lack of action on earned sick time and minimum wage. We believe the votes are there, it’s more a question of legislative leadership making it a priority and allowing a vote.
What you can do: Make your voice heard today! We need your help reminding lawmakers that businesses and workers alike are counting on them to stop the partisan fighting and fix the new earned sick time and minimum wage laws before the end of the year. Tell them you are watching and strongly opposed to their efforts to jam through anti-employer, anti-growth policies.
| |
Click HERE to read our December Events Notice. | |
Energize Young Professionals Network | |
Click HERE to read the Energize December Newsletter. | |
2025 Coffee Social Sponsorships | |
|
Energize YPN is excited to continue their tradition of hosting monthly Coffee Socials, providing a platform for young professionals to connect, share ideas, and foster meaningful relationships, and they are currently seeking sponsors for 2025!
Coffee socials are hosted one Friday per month from 8-9am, rotating between local, Chamber member coffee shops.
There are 12, $100 sponsorships available that include:
- Opportunity to provide giveaways, hold activities, or facilitate networking opportunities during your sponsored Coffee Social
- Includes (25) $2 off coupons to pass out to young professionals in attendance to be used during a Coffee Social
- All sponsorships will be marketed on the Energize social media pages for approximately one month leading up to each Coffee Social event
Available dates to host:
- July 18th
- August 15th
- October 31st
- November 21st
- December 19th
Please reach out to annabelle@baycityarea.com to secure your sponsorship. Include your first and second choice date to sponsor, attach a company logo, and describe any additional activities or giveaways you will provide (if applicable).
| |
Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies | |
|
A ribbon cutting is a ceremonial opening of a new business, a recognition for newly renovated business, a celebration of an anniversary, or recognition for a major milestone. Ribbon cuttings are a great way to bring attention to your business!
In November, a Ribbon Cutting was held for: Krazy Juan Mexican Steakhouse.
| |
Are you interested in becoming a Chamber Ambassador? Reach out to annabelle@baycityarea.com for program requirements and an application. | |
|
Thank you to all who attended our events in November!
Please visit our Facebook Page to see photos from the events.
| |
November Eye Opener Breakfast | |
|
November Business After Hours | |
A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors! | | | | |
